Admission notes: This turtle was found in Cocoa Beach tumbling in the surf. Boxer’s body condition looked good aside from being thin, having a small wound to the left thigh and carrying a mild epibiont load. This turtle received fluids and a couple of broad-spectrum antibiotics on intake and was dry docked overnight. A day later, they were cleaned up, went for a swim and are already showing interest in food!

UPDATES

March 13, 2019: Boxer finally started eating on their own! They have chosen to stick with only algae, but at least it’s something after almost three months of refusing to eat.

February 21, 2019: Boxer continues to gain strength from gavage feeding, but this turtle still refuses to eat on their own.

February 13, 2019: Boxer is currently living in a smaller pool by themselves so that we can give them a more personalized treatment since this turtle is still yet to eat on their own. Luckily, with gavage feeding, we have seen an increase in weight in this turtle.

February 6, 2019: Boxer is still not interested in eating, so we continue to gavage feed in order to keep them at a healthy weight. During Boxer’s third fecal check, we found one trematode. We will most likely treat this turtle with an anti-parasitic. Boxer will be moved to a smaller tank to get more individualized attention during feedings.

January 29, 2019: This turtle has passed their second fecal check! Boxer will have to pass one more to be considered free of parasites. They still do not seem interested in offered food, so we plan to continue gavage feeding to ensure Boxer maintains a healthy weight.

January 23, 2019: Boxer is still not interested in eating on their own, but gavage feeding is going well to ensure this turtle gets vital nutrients. We still offer a sample of protein, algae and lettuce for when this turtle decides to eat. Boxer has passed one of three tests to be considered parasite free.

January 17, 2019: Boxer is still not showing interest in eating on their own, so we continue to gavage feed this turtle to ensure they maintain a healthy weight. Since Boxer’s last fecal exam, the flukes in their poop have decreased! We hope to have this turtle clean soon.

January 9, 2019: This week, flukes were found in Boxer’s fecals. This turtle started a round of de-worming medication and will hopefully be clean soon! We continue to offer food to Boxer, but they are not showing interest in eating on their own quite yet. Thus, we have made the decision to start gavage feeding, which will help keep weight on this already very skinny turtle.

January 2, 2019: Boxer came into the Healing Center thin and weak, but with a great appetite. Unfortunately, a few days after being admitted this turtle stopped eating. We continue to offer them food and placement feed when they will not eat on their own. Boxer has been responding well to this and does not try to spit the food back out. They are still on daily fluid therapy and broad-spectrum antibiotics.